Your Most Detailed Look at the Lancia Stratos Zero Yet

The Stratos Zero is Marcello Gandini's masterpiece from 1970, and one of Bertone's greatest hits. What's more, the predecessor of the equally bonkers production Lancia Stratos is a full working concept car, powered by a V4 engine out of a Fulvia 1.6 HF, running rather roughly after all these years. But running is the key word here.

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Even if you read the story of how the Zero entered the Lancia factory gates by passing underneath the barrier back in the day, it's hard to imagine how ridiculously low this car is until you see it followed by a cyclist.

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Of course the Zero only hit the streets to be the star of Villa d'Este by Lake Como, and those lucky visitors sure got a fair amount of ur-Stratos action. Was I aware that the windshield opened upwards, yet the engine cover to the side? Nope. Did I feel the urge earlier to start waving through the Zero's tiny side windows? It haven't even crossed my mind! Would I try to fine-tune that sweet V4 on the spot? Probably not. But hey, we have Sam Smith.

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